Just over a couple of years ago, every trend in the fashion world seemed to come with its own neologism. Whatever the subject, the suffix -core would be added to a word to describe an obsession that would not remain confined to the wardrobe, but would evolve into a lifestyle of its own.

That trend has not entirely faded away, but that is not the point. Among the many labels born from this phenomenon, bikercore and motorcore undoubtedly topped the charts, mentioned millions of times across the media. (On TikTok, proving once again that these are not merely matters of clothing, users discuss how to do their makeup when wearing a helmet, while some of the latest trends feature motorcycle explainers aimed at girls. The number of steps in a beauty or skincare routine is often used to illustrate the difference between a fully equipped motorcycle and a more basic, less luxurious version.)

The truth, however, is that bikercore and motorcore existed long before these terms were invented. “Chrome, speed, leather. With a backdrop of noise. Perhaps accompanied by Born to Be Wild as the soundtrack.”

It is the myth of the motorcycle, with all its stereotypes, that continues to shape attitudes and lifestyles and inspire generations to dream. Just as fashion often draws inspiration from it.

“And it is not merely a question of the blouson noir à la Marlon Brando, returning in endless variations of zips and fringes, signed at different times by Versace, Moschino or Dolce & Gabbana,” wrote Paolo Apice in Vogue Italia in July 2004.

In The Wild One by László Benedek (1953), Marlon Brando wore the garment that would inspire every exploration at the intersection of fashion and motorcycling. It was the Perfecto jacket, designed by Irving Schott in 1928 and named after his favourite cigar brand. What turned it into an icon of fashion history were its angled pockets and zips, deliberately left exposed for the first time.

When it comes to luxury, fashion and motors have always moved at the same speed. In November 2024, Lee Chang-sub, a member of the K-pop boy band BtoB who recently embarked on a solo career, posed for Esquire Korea, showcasing the dynamic nature of his personality. Through Ducati—and on a Ducati motorcycle—he spoke about the challenges of personal evolution, using self-representation as a way to give space to every dimension of his individuality.

As early as the 1970s, L’Officiel dedicated a column to the affinity between fashion and vehicles, portraying prominent social figures—dressed by the most sought-after designers of the time—alongside their gleaming automobiles.

A passionate motorcyclist once commissioned Garrard, then the jeweller of the British Crown, to create a blue and gilded silver enamel fuel tank for his Ducati. In 1992, Jean Paul Gaultier sent Alpinestars Victory boots down the runway among his corsets, while Thierry Mugler transformed a motorcycle frame into a leather bustier dress (later worn by Beyoncé in 2008 for I Am... Sasha Fierce). Vivienne Westwood printed the phrase “live to ride” on her handbags, echoing the spirit of two-wheel enthusiasts. In 2012, Miuccia Prada reinterpreted the classic biker jacket as tailored coats embellished with studs and rich decoration.

A year later, Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent introduced the Motorcycle Jacket, reinventing an emblem of rock rebellion. For the Spring/Summer 2018 Fenty collection, Rihanna collaborated with Puma, drawing inspiration from motorsport culture and closing the show riding a motorcycle. Maria Grazia Chiuri, together with D-Air Lab, designed an evolved version of Dior’s Bar Jacket, combining protection with functionality. More recently, Balenciaga and Alpinestars launched an upcycled leather racing jacket, while Demna established motorcore as a cornerstone of his disruptive creative vision. To celebrate its thirtieth anniversary, Dsquared2 presented a capsule collection created in collaboration with Ducati: a celebration of style born from movement. A project that followed the path already traced by Borgo Panigale through its streetwear collaboration with Supreme and its more technical and performance-oriented partnership with Aldo Drudi Performance.

At first glance, these examples might seem like simple stylistic references or superficial attempts at imitation. Yet no dimension of human expression is free from aesthetic meaning. And aesthetic meaning is nothing more than the most visible layer of identity.

Those who rarely question the deeper reasons behind things may believe that a racetrack and a runway have nothing in common. But a biker does not necessarily need a motorcycle to be recognisable. Before anything else, theirs is a sense of belonging, expressed through the image they present to the world.

Fashion tells the story of human emotions and the political implications that emerge from them, moving between anti-bourgeois subcultures and popular phenomena. What fashion has always sought to explore is not shapes or volumes in themselves, but what they represent both individually and collectively. It is precisely from this encounter with motorcycle culture that an entire non-verbal language was born.

Two brands, two visions, one point of convergence. Ducati and Dsquared2 come together in an unprecedented collaboration, once again pushing beyond the boundaries between fashion and motors. The result? An exclusive capsule collection inspired by the XDiavel V4.

Two icons of Made in Italy, two worlds meeting on common ground: design. Ducati and Dsquared2 share a vision shaped by innovation, research and meticulous attention to detail, where aesthetics and functionality blend naturally, without compromise.

Presented during Milan Fashion Week as part of Dsquared2’s thirtieth anniversary celebrations, this collection is more than clothing. It is an attitude. A selection of garments and accessories that speak the language of speed, the road and the instinct to stand out.

Bold lines, refined materials. Worn leather, essential denim and details that evoke the freedom of a ride without destination.

The XDiavel V4 is pure character. It challenges every convention. Just like this capsule collection. Its sculpted design is a statement of intent. Power, control and commanding presence. And within the collection, all of this takes shape in a line that does not follow the rules. It rewrites them.

The Dsquared2 x Ducati capsule collection is a celebration of motorcycle heritage and of a fashion that does not adapt, but sets its own pace. A total look for those who see the road as an extension of their character.

For those who always accelerate forward, never looking back.